BATHURST, N.B. - The type of passenger van that crashed in New Brunswick on Saturday, killing seven teenagers and a teacher, is considered so unsafe on the road the United States government has banned schools across that country from purchasing the vehicle to transport students.

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The Bathurst High van was carrying 12 passengers, including the driver, when it crashed. "If you have any loss of control for any reason, it's very difficult to get the van back under control," said Jeff Wiggington, a Texas lawyer who has campaigned hard to have the vans removed from U.S. roads.

Because of the weight on the rear axle, said Mr. Wiggington, "the front tires are less responsive than you expect them to be to any steering inputs, so the driver is deceived into steering too much or too little into what happens on the roadway.

"The bottom line is that a minor error often becomes fatal in a 15-passenger van, whereas in most vehicles it is not."

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